India all-rounder Deepti Sharma delivered a stellar performance with both bat and ball as London Spirit clinched their first Women’s Hundred title, defeating Welsh Fire by four wickets in a thrilling final at Lord’s.
Deepti contributed significantly, taking a key wicket while conceding only 23 runs and later hitting a run-a-ball 16, including the match-winning six off Hayley Matthews. The moment of victory saw Deepti and England’s Charlie Dean share an emotional embrace, sealing London Spirit’s triumph.
The finale at Lord’s carried a touch of poetic justice. Just two years ago, Deepti had been at the center of a controversy for running out Charlie Dean at the non-striker’s end during an ODI against England, sparking widespread debate about the “spirit of the game.” Fast forward to this final, and both players found themselves on the same side, united in their pursuit of London Spirit’s first-ever title.
Chasing a modest target of 116, London Spirit achieved victory with two balls to spare, completing their chase in 98 balls. The chase was anchored by Georgia Redmayne, who played a composed 32-ball 34, while captain Heather Knight and Danielle Gibson chipped in with valuable contributions of 24 and 22, respectively.
Welsh Fire’s defense was led by South African pacer Shabnim Ismail, who caused considerable damage with her fiery spell, taking three wickets for 24 runs in her 20 balls. Her efforts briefly threatened to derail London Spirit’s chase, but Deepti’s composed finishing under pressure ensured that Spirit crossed the line.
Earlier in the match, Welsh Fire set a total of 115 for 8 in their allotted 100 balls, largely thanks to a brilliant 41-ball 54 by Australia’s Jess Jonassen. Jonassen held the Welsh Fire innings together as wickets fell at regular intervals. London Spirit’s bowling unit, led by Eva Gray (2/26) and Sarah Glenn (2/17), kept things tight, with Deepti, along with Tera Norris (1/18), playing crucial supporting roles.
More Read
Deepti’s all-round brilliance was a major factor in the final, but it was the team effort that truly shone through. The Spirit’s bowlers applied constant pressure to prevent Welsh Fire from building any significant partnerships, and their batters held their nerve during a tense chase.
The win not only marked London Spirit’s maiden Women’s Hundred title but also symbolized redemption and camaraderie for Deepti Sharma and Charlie Dean. From being part of a much-debated incident to sharing a jubilant moment of victory, the two players demonstrated the spirit of cricket in the best possible way.
As the tournament concluded, Deepti’s match-winning six became an iconic moment, underlining her ability to rise to the occasion when her team needed her the most. London Spirit’s title triumph, led by a mix of Indian and English stars, will be remembered as a moment of unity, resilience, and class.
With this victory, London Spirit have etched their name in the history of The Hundred, and Deepti Sharma’s contributions will go down as one of the key moments in their successful campaign.
